Employment and N400

[aloma 8]

Hello everyone!

 

This January I just started with my doctoral program. The undertaking of this program is so overwhelming that most universities with this program highly encourage students not to work (I have a letter of the university stating this and their website also states it).  Back in December I quit my job to start this program. Right now our only income is my husband's but we managed to have good savings to pay for the very expensive education. Since I am most likely filling for citizenship after my midterm's tests I was wondering if it is going to be any red flag/issue in the application that right now I am not employed and I am a full-time graduate student instead.

 

Any words of wisdom? Thank you in advance!

[TNJ17 1,329]

Why would that be an issue? 

[aloma 8]

No idea. That's why I was asking. If they are looking to give citizenships to people who can be a benefit for the society etc I was wondering if at first glance they may be nitpicky on the fact that an applicant is currently unemployed. Just wondering.

[CarlHamilton 252]

3 hours ago, aloma said:

Hello everyone!

 

This January I just started with my doctoral program. The undertaking of this program is so overwhelming that most universities with this program highly encourage students not to work (I have a letter of the university stating this and their website also states it).  Back in December I quit my job to start this program. Right now our only income is my husband's but we managed to have good savings to pay for the very expensive education. Since I am most likely filling for citizenship after my midterm's tests I was wondering if it is going to be any red flag/issue in the application that right now I am not employed and I am a full-time graduate student instead.

 

Any words of wisdom? Thank you in advance!

Are you filing based on marriage or employment?

[aloma 8]

11 hours ago, shomer said:

Are you filing based on marriage or employment?

I have lived in the USA as a PR for 7 years. I could either state I have been married to a USC for 3 years or say I have lived in the USA for 5 years.

[CarlHamilton 252]

1 minute ago, aloma said:

I have lived in the USA as a PR for 7 years. I could either state I have been married to a USC for 3 years or say I have lived in the USA for 5 years.

OK.  Either way, there is no legal requirement to be employed when applying for citizenship.  Some employment-based applicants are more worried about their job situation than their marriage-based counterparts (partly as a psychological holdover from the green card application process).  But in the end it shouldn't matter. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Lynyogini 7]

I never had any issues. I was unemployed also(my husband was the one working). It shouldn't matter like the other ones said. Good luck!  

[aloma 8]

Thank you all for your opinions and insight! Much appreciated!

[jkstark 97]

On 2/21/2018 at 10:12 AM, aloma said:

I have lived in the USA as a PR for 7 years. I could either state I have been married to a USC for 3 years or say I have lived in the USA for 5 years.

Go for the 5 year rule - less paperwork and less hassle...  This was exactly the advise that I was given by the lawyer that had originally handled my GC application when I asked him to do a once-over on my N400.  I was eligible for either, so in his opinion there was a chance that the 5 year rule would get you through faster as well since there would be less paperwork for them to handle (and potentially lose...)

 

Good luck!

[aloma 8]

3 hours ago, jkstark said:

Go for the 5 year rule - less paperwork and less hassle...  This was exactly the advise that I was given by the lawyer that had originally handled my GC application when I asked him to do a once-over on my N400.  I was eligible for either, so in his opinion there was a chance that the 5 year rule would get you through faster as well since there would be less paperwork for them to handle (and potentially lose...)

 

Good luck!

jkstark,

 

After reading the N-400 form, I do not see what would be the extra paperwork to base it on the 3 years instead than the 5 years. Either or they will ask if I am married with a U.S. citizen, I will have to say yes, and I will have to show his citizenship certificate (again), and I will have to show the marriage certificate (again). I do not know what would be the extra paperwork your lawyer was talking about. Did he/she mention what would be?

[jkstark 97]

Just no need for the familial proof paperwork - just having been in country is enough.    I did not end up having to show anything special - simply the application...  I did send the basic requirements of paperwork, but nothing else was ever asked for...

 

 

[Hypnos 6,576]

Being employed isn't an N-400 requirement.

[MiraW 58]

Of course it’s not a problem... the oldest person at my oath ceremony was 80. I highly doubt she’s employed. The person sitting next to me was a grad student too.

Ps. Filing based on the 3 year rule would mean you need to provide marriage evidence, such as comingling financial records. 

[jkstark 97]

10 hours ago, MiraW said:

Of course it’s not a problem... the oldest person at my oath ceremony was 80. I highly doubt she’s employed. The person sitting next to me was a grad student too.

Ps. Filing based on the 3 year rule would mean you need to provide marriage evidence, such as comingling financial records. 

This is what I was trying to say - the evidenciary paperwork that you don't need with a 5 year rule petition...  You don't have to go through the trouble to get it all together, nor does the IO have to sift through it...  Again, this was the recommendation from my previous attorney based on the fact that I qualified for both.

 

I also don't recall seeing any questions about income, other than the requirement for tax returns, but I suspect that was more along the lines of verifying that you are filing and paying rather than to verify any income level.